Gatsby's Light

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What does Essay Grader do?

Essay Grader uses pre-written comments to compile a feedback sheet to be given to the student. The feedback sheet is a list of comments that amount to a mini-tutorial. The feedback sheet can either be stapled to the back of the student’s paper or emailed directly to him or her.

By moving back and forth between a series of tabs and clicking on the appropriate comment fields, a feedback document is created for each essay you grade. The comment sheet can either be emailed directly to the student or exported for editing and printing. Essay Grader comes with three unique banks of pre-written comments for a multitude of topics within the categories of praise, organization, content, mechanics, style, and documentation. All comments are fully editible, and Essay Grader comes with three empty banks where you can write entirely original comments of your own. Users can even purchase new comment packs via in-app purchases. The first and last paragraphs of the feedback document are optional free-write paragraphs where you have the ability to personalize each student's feedback sheet. Essay Grader helps you avoid writing the same comments over and over again by hand and gives you the ability to provide more targeted and more comprehensive feedback than you can with a red pen. When you finish choosing the appropriate comments, simply assign a holistic grade on the "Grade" tab, and that grade will appear at the bottom of the student's feedback sheet. With version the iPad 3 and iPhone 4S, users can even dictate custom comments to be included in the feedback document.

How do I grade an essay with Essay Grader?

Mac – Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.
iPad – Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.
iPhone – Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.

Can Essay Grader insert comments directly into the student's paper?

No. While we plan to include this option at some point, the purpose of Essay Grader is to make grading faster and easier. We have found that inserting comments directly into the student's essay actually takes much more time for only a limited benefit. With Essay Grader, many users have been able to effectively grade an essay in under five minutes. Entering the comments directly in to the essay necessitates many additional steps and increases grading time to as much as fifteen minutes per essay.

Is Essay Grader automatic grading software?

No. Essay Grader is not automatic grading software. Essay Grader uses per-written comments to compile a feedback sheet to be given to the student. The feedback sheet is a list of comments that amounts to a mini-tutorial. The feedback sheet can either be stapled to the back of the student's paper or emailed directly to him or her.

How do I upload my students' essays to Essay Grader?

The student's essay is never "uploaded" to Essay Grader. You still must grade the essay manually. However, Essay Grader compiles a feedback document to be sent to the student and eliminates the need to write the same comments over and over again by hand.

How do I delete students' files from the list screen?

Press the red X on the list screen to delete individual files. You must press "Export" is you wish to remove all of the files from the"List" screen at once.

How do I save my students' files to a computer?

Mac & PC – Press "Export." Save your files in the location of your choosing.
iPad & iPhone – Press "Export." Email them to yourself as attachments OR Retrieve you files from iTunes File Sharing.
**As you are grading, make sure to press "Save / New" to finalize each student's file.**

Why won't my student feedback sheets export?

After you finish grading each essay, you need to press “Save / New.” On the “List” screen, the green check mark on each student’s folder signifies that the file is finalized. In order to export your files, they must be finalized. To finalize your files, go back into any files that do not have the green check mark. Once you are in the file, press “Save / New.” You should now see a green check mark on the student’s file, and you should be able to export.

Essay Grader tells me that I have "Drafts." What does that mean?

After you finish grading each essay, you need to press “Save / New.” On the “List” screen, the green check mark on each student’s folder signifies that the file is finalized. In order to export your files, they must be finalized. To finalize your files, go back into any files that do not have the green check mark. Once you are in the file, press “Save / New.” You should now see a green check mark on the student’s file, and you should be able to export. This no longer applies to higher versions of Essay Grader Mac & iPad.

On the “List” screen, what does the green check mark on the folder signify?

The green check mark signifies that the file is finalized. In order to export your files, they must be finalized. To finalize your files, go back into any files that do not have the green check mark. Once you are in the file, click “Save / New.” You should now see a green check mark on the student’s file, and you should be able to export. This no longer applies to higher versions of Essay Grader Mac & iPad.

How do I create a class list file?

At present, only Essay Grader Mac & iPad have the ability to import a class list.
Using a recent version of Micorsoft Excel, create a spreadsheet in the following format:

1. Column A – Type the student’s FULL name, first AND last. (Required)
2. Column B – Type the name of the assignment. (Required)
3. Column C – Type the student’s email address. (optional)
4. Press “Save As” and choose the “CSV” format.

**NO SYMOBLS – the “Name “and “Assignment” fields can only accept numbers and letters. No symbols or special characters can be used–no curly apostrophes or quotation marks.**

How do I import a class list?

Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.

Where can I get a sample class list?

Click here to download a sample class list.

Essay Grader Mac has crashed. All I see is a grey background. (Mac)

There is a problem with your comment database. Most likely, something is missing or arranged improperly. Restore Essay Grader to its default state.

Essay Grader iPad has crashed. I imported my custom comment database, but now the app won't open. (iPad)

There is a problem with your comment database. Most likely, something is missing or arranged improperly. Delete and reinstall the app.

How do I restore Essay Grader to its default state?

MAC -
1.In Lion, the user’s “Library” file is hidden. So you must reveal all files before we can proceed:
Open finder, hold “option” key, click “Go” on Finder program menu. Library will become visible wile option key is depressed.
2. Delete the following file:
user/library/application support/Essay Grader/Essay_Grader_3.sqlite
3. Empty trash.
4. Restart Essay Grader

iPad & iPhone – Delete the app from your device and reinstall it from the App Store. You will not be charged again.
PC – Unlisted and reinstall the program.

How do I uninstall Essay Grader?

Mac - Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic. Sometimes, however, there is no need to actually uninstall the program. If you only wish to return the program to its default state.
iPad & iPhone – Simply delete the program from your device, and you’re done.
PC – Use the uninstall feature, or Windows to remove Essay Grader from your system

How do I edit a comment, tab label, column label, or comment label?

Mac & iPad - Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.
PC - Click on the red X next to the comment to edit that comment. Currently tab labels, column labels, and comment labels are not edit able in Essay Grader PC 1.0.

What is the comment database?

The comment database is a simple spreadsheet list of the comments Essay Grader will use for compile student feedback documents.

What is the "comment database" "CSV" file?

The comment database is a Comma Separated Values (CSV) spreadsheet file. It is much like an Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, only simpler. The comment database is the raw information that Essay Grader uses to compile student feedback sheets.

What program will I need in order to edit the CSV comment database file?

In order to edit the Essay Grader comment database, you will need a recent and updated version of Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers.
**Essay Grader is not compatible with Microsoft Windows 2007**

How do I export and save my custom comment database?

Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.

How do I export and save my student's feedback sheets?

Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.

Why is it important to save a copy of my custom comment database?

In the future, it may be necessary for you to delete and reinstall Essay Grader. If that happens, you will need to have a copy of your custom comment database in order to restore your copy of Essay Grader to its previous state. For that reason, it is imperative that you save a copy of your database. To save your custom comment database, export your comment database and save it in a folder where you will be able to find it later if needed.

How do I edit the default comment database?

Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.

Where can I find a copy of the default comment database?

Click here to download a copy of Essay Grader's default comment database.

What is the structure and layout of the default comment database?

Column A -Tab label
Column B - Column label
Column C - Comment label
Column D - Comment variety 1
Column E - Comment variety 2
Column F - Comment variety 3
Column G - Comment variety 4
Column H - Comment variety 5
Column I - Comment variety 6

Which columns can I edit in the comment database?

All comments, rows, and columns are edit able in Essay Grader Mac and iPad.

Can I rearrange or delete the vertical columns within the comment database?

No. The vertical columns must remain as they appear in the default comment database.

Can I sort and rearrange the horizontal rows within the comment database?

Yes. You can display the horizontal rows in any way you choose. Your changes will also be reflected in the app interface.

What are the minimum requirements for the database structure?

Click here to download a CSV file that represents the absolute minimum structure of Essay Grader's comment database.
Click here for a color-coded version of the minimum structure document.

Columns - The number and order of the vertical columns must remain as they appear in the default comment database.
Rows - Every tab (or page) on the Essay Grader program user interface needs no more and no less that four columns. Each column needs to contain a minimum of one comment. You cannot delete entire tabs or columns within tabs. This means that the CSV database file must contain at least four rows for each of the six overall categories. Therefore, the CSV database must contain at least (6 x 4 = 24) twenty four properly formatted rows.
Column A - Column A must contain only six different values. These six values correspond to the six tabs on the user interface. Any more or fewer than six values in column A will result in a corrupted database.
Column B - For each of the six categories (tab labels) designated in column A, there must be exactly four unique values designated in column B. These four values correspond to the labels for each of the four mandatory columns on each tab or page in the interface.
Column C - The values in column C correspond to the labels for each comment. Each of these values can be unique, but there must be a minimum of one comment in each column on the interface.
Columns D to I - These columns store the pre-written comments that will be used to compile the final document.

Can I delete vertical columns in the comment database?

No. The structure, number, and organization of the vertical columns in the CSV database are mandatory. Essay Grader uses all of the columns to find its way.

Can I delete horizontal rows within the comment database?

Yes. But be mindful of the minimum structure of the CSV comment database.

How do I add a comment to a page using the edit mode?

To add a comment in Edit Mode, press “Add” at the top right. Then fill in the desired information for the comment.

Can I delete an entire category from one of the tab pages within Essay Grader?

No. The default number of categories (columns) and the position of those columns on each page cannot be changed. Each category must have at least one comment. You can, however, change category names.

How do I add a comment to a page by editing the CSV database file?

Click here to view our YouTube tutorial video this topic.

**NO SYMOBLS – Avoid using symbols or special characters–no curly apostrophes or quotation marks.**

Does Gatsby's Light hold a patent for Essay Grader?

Patent Pending - Gatsby’s Light has a patent pending for Essay Grader. Our patent application has been in queue at the U.S patent office for well over two years.

What are "Comments 1" "Comments 2" "Comments 3" etc.?

Each comment (pre-wrtten block of text) should say just about the same thing, but the wording of each comment should vary. By using different versions of the same comment, instructors can create the illusion that he / she has written fresh comments on each student's paper. Alternatively, some instructors use the different comment banks to signify varying degrees or different variations of the same error. Essay Grader can me edited to function is many different ways. BUT . . . the same comment can only be selected in one bank at a time.

When I purchase new comment packs, where do they go?

New comment packs fill "Comments 6." If you intend to purchase multiple comment pack, you will need to edit your CSV database file. Just cut and paste column I into an empty column, import the new database, and then purchase the new comment pack. Repeat this process for each new pack you purchase.